scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Assessment Systems of Foot Function

Author(s):  
A.P. Liabakh ◽  
O.A. Turchyn ◽  
V.M. Piatkovskyi ◽  
I.V. Kucher

Summary. The assessment of foot and ankle function still remains an actual issue of the modern orthopedics. Objective: comparative qualitative analysis of the most common assessment systems of foot and ankle function. Materials and Methods. The search from PubMed databases from 1946 to 2021 was done. 8898 publications were detected in which assessment systems of foot and ankle function have been used. 12 assessment systems presented in 5705 publications were selected for analysis (inclusion criterion – no less than 40 publications): AOFAS scale, VAS, SF-36 EQL, FFI, FAOS, FAAM, FADI, BFS, MOFAQ, FFI-R, Roles&Maudsley scale, VAS FA. The analysis predicted the assessment system philosophy: numerical estimate, VAS, Likert scale, patient- or investigatororiented, and reliability evidence. Results. Most of the analized assessment systems meet criteria of reliability (r>0.8; Kronbach’s α≥0.9). For Roles&Maudsley scale and VAS, FA reliability has not been established. The validity fluctuates widely. Conclusions. The choice of an assessment system must meet the research tasks. The consideration of strong and weak sides of assessment systems promotes their adequate combinations to avoid the bias effect.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0025
Author(s):  
Marcey Keefer Hutchison ◽  
Robin Dorociak ◽  
Alison Modafferi ◽  
Shanna Howland ◽  
Angela Foster ◽  
...  

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Specific exercises to train foot muscles for barefoot running (i.e. doming seated[DS] and standing[DSt]) and post foot and ankle injury (i.e. seated plantar flexion and inversion[SPFI]) are common. Exercise programs specifically for the foot claim improvement in foot posture (foot posture index [FPI]) and foot strength. However, rigorous assessment of foot function as a result of exercise is lacking (i.e. foot posture, strength, and plantar pressure). Further, no studies specifically address patients with flat foot. The purpose of this case series study was to assess the immediate effects of an 8-week foot exercise and barefoot weight bearing program on clinical and biomechanical measures of foot function. Methods: Thirty three participants, 23 with a severe flatfoot (SFF), measured by FPI (> 6/12, average = 9.4±1.5, age=28.9 ±11.0) and 10 age/gender matched controls (AMC) with a normal foot (FPI average=4.6±1.5, age = 29.8±7.8) participated. The SFF group completed 4 foot exercises (DS, DSt, SPFI, and toe spreading) and spent 2 hours/day barefoot weight bearing 5 days/week for 8 weeks. The SFF group was tested pre- and post exercise and the AMC group once. Testing included plantar pressure during walking (cadence 120 bpm), abductor halluces cross sectional area(CSA) using diagnostic ultrasound, paper pull test (PPT) quantified 1st metatarsophalangeal joint(MTP) flexion strength using a force plate, and heel raises (repetitions and heel height). ANOVA models and T-tests were used to assess the effects of pre- to post exercise and make comparisons between the SFF group and the AMC group. Post exercise interviews were transcribed and subjected to word count analysis. Results: Although no calf training was included, heel rise repetition (Right: Pre=28.0 to Post 35.0, Left: Pre=30.6 Post= 38.2) and heel height (Increased Right: 1.7 cm, Left: 1.8 cm) improved (Figure 1). The PPT test indicated increased 1st MTP flexion force post exercise bilaterally (Right p=0.002, Left p=0.007). Consistent with increased force of the PPT, abductor halluces muscle CSA increased bilaterally (Right & Left = 0.3 cm2 or 12.5%). However, plantar pressures were not different post exercise (p>0.05). Post exercise the SFF group and AMC group were similar across variables(p>0.05). Compliance logs indicated 87.7% completion of prescribed exercises and 111% of time targeted barefoot weight bearing. The top 6 words mentioned in post exercise interviews were: exercise, time, stronger, standing, hard, and easy. Conclusion: This is the first data to demonstrate that foot only exercises have a significant influence on ankle plantar flexion function (i.e. increased heel rise repetition and height) and patient qualitative assessments of their foot. The argument that this increase in ankle function derives from the training effects within the foot is supported by significantly higher 1st MTP force (increased PPT test) and increased cross sectional area of the abductor halluces muscle. Despite having significant flat foot deformity participants enhanced their foot and ankle function. This suggests that other foot problems with similar deformity may also benefit from exercise.


2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 4097-4103
Author(s):  
You Yin Jing ◽  
Jian Liang Zhang ◽  
He Bai

This paper proposes some suggestions to perfect our current green building assessment system. Green building and ecological building is undoubtedly the trend of construction industry. Green building assessment systems play a directional function for the design, the construction and the use of green architecture. This paper introduces the development of green building assessment system at China and other country firstly. Through the comparison and analysis for some kinds of green building assessment systems, found that that the applicability for buildings and areas and the fairness for ecological environment and surrounding people of current assessment system should be optimized. Finally,proposed that several aspects must be considered, and thus establish the new system-A Green Building Assessment Method Which Based on the Environmental Disturbance and Ecological Compensation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011417S0000
Author(s):  
Samuel Adams ◽  
Travis Dekker ◽  
John Steele ◽  
Kamran Hamid

Category: Ankle,Ankle Arthritis,Basic Sciences/Biologics,Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Large lower extremity bony defects, complex foot and ankle deformities, and high-risk arthrodesis situations can be difficult to treat. These challenging pathologies, often require a critical-sizes and/or shaped structural bone void filler which may not be available with allograft bone. The advancement of 3D printing technology has allowed for the use of custom designed implants for foot and ankle surgery. This study reports on the radiographic and functional outcomes of a case series of patients treated with patient-specific 3D printed titanium implants. Methods: Seven consecutive patients who were treated with custom designed 3D printed implant cages for severe bone loss, deformity correction, and arthrodesis procedures were included in this study. A minimum of 1-year follow-up was required. No patients were lost to follow-up. Patients completed preoperative and most recent follow-up VAS for pain, FAAM, and SF-36 outcomes questionnaires. All patients had post-operative radiographs and CT scans to assess bony incorporation. Results: The mean age of these patients was 54.6 (35-73 years of age). The mean follow-up of these seven patients was 17.1 months (range 12 to 31). Radiographic fusion with cage ingrowth and integration occurred in all seven patients verified by CT scan. There was statistically significant improvement in all functional outcome score measures (VAS for pain, FAAM, and SF-36). All patients returned were satisfied with surgery. There were no failures. Case examples are demonstrated in Figure 1. Conclusion: This cohort of patients demonstrated the successful use of custom 3D printed implants to treat complex large bony defects, deformities and arthrodesis procedures of the lower extremity. These implants offer the surgeon a patient specific approach to treat both pain and deformity that is not necessarily available with allograft bone.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Bellas ◽  
Carl Cirino ◽  
Mark Cote ◽  
Vinayak Sathe ◽  
Lauren Geaney

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Patient reported outcome measures serve as an invaluable tool in both the clinical and research setting to monitor a patient’s condition and efficacy of treatments over time. We aim to validate the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score for disorders of the lower extremity using the revised Foot Function Index (rFFI) as a reference. The rFFI is a validated 34-question survey tool utilized in the evaluation of patients with foot and ankle related pathology [1-4], while the SANE score consists of a patient’s single numerical rating of the status of their extremity [5]. Given its ease of use and prior validation with shoulder pathology, the SANE score has potential as a practical and effective outcome measure in foot and ankle pathology. Methods: Patient age, sex, visit diagnosis by ICD-10 code, SANE score, and FFI score were collected retrospectively from 218 initial patient encounters between January 2015 through July 2017. Patients were included if they were 18 years and older presenting for outpatient evaluation to the University of Connecticut Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Department. Patients were excluded if they had incomplete SANE or rFFI data. The rFFI is a 34-question survey with subscales including pain (7 questions), stiffness (7 questions), activity limitation (3 questions), difficulty (11 questions), and social issues (6 questions). Results of the two scores were compared using the Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients with correlation defined as excellent (>0.7), excellent-good (0.61-0.7), good (0.4-0.6), or poor (0.2-0.39) [6]. Diagnoses were categorized into 9 subgroups that were analyzed including: forefoot, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, deformity, fracture, tendinitis, OCD, soft tissue trauma and “other”. Results: The SANE score had good correlation with the overall rFFI score (r=0.51, p<0.001). When comparing the SANE score to the rFFI subscores, there was good correlation with pain (r=0.42, p<0.001), good correlation with stiffness (r=0.44, p<0.001), poor correlation with activity (r=0.36, p<0.001), good correlation with difficulty (r=0.52, p<0.001), and poor correlation with social issues (r=0.39, p<0.001). Sub-analysis showed an excellent to good correlation between SANE and rFFI score for forefoot pathology (r=0.67, p<0.001), “other” pathologies (r=0.65, p<0.001), and plantar fasciitis (r=0.63, p<0.016), good correlation for arthritis (r=0.49, p<0.038), deformity (r=0.60, p<0.010), fracture (r=0.50, p<0.004), and tendinitis (r=0.47, p<0.017), and no significant correlation for OCD of the talus (r=0.56, p<0.145) and soft tissue trauma (r=0.19, p<0.319). Conclusion: The SANE score demonstrates good correlation with the rFFI overall. However, its correlation varies depending on the subscore of the rFFI and the presenting pathology of the patient. The SANE score correlates best with the rFFI pain, stiffness, and difficulty subscore, and poorly with activity and social issues. In addition, the SANE score correlates best with forefoot pathologies, plantar fasciitis, and “other” pathologies but does not correlate with patients presenting for OCD of the talus or soft tissue trauma.


Author(s):  
Andre Triadi Desnantyo ◽  
Muhammad Zaim Chilmi ◽  
Hizbillah Yazid

ABSTRACT Ankle osteoarthritis patients are young and lack of available long last treatment. Ankle arthrodesis remains the gold standard and is the procedure of choice for younger patients who are heavy laborers. These case series evaluate and report five patients undergone ankle arthrodesis at RSUD Dr. Soetomo Surabaya on 2012-2016. The data were collected from patient files, radiographs, and a recent physical examination. The outcome has been assessed with SF-36 score and clinical scoring system Ankle-Hind foot American Foot and Ankle Society. Three male patients and two female patients underwent ankle arthrodesis with cannulated screw, caused by neglected severe ankle dislocation. One patient had open dislocation. Based on SF-36 scoring, the five patients had average score 76,7 with highest and lowest score were 95,9 and 56,7. Based on clinical score ankle-hind foot American Ankle and Foot Society, the average score was 68(51 – 88). The scoring result includes general health, physic, emotional, and social. And clinical scoring ankle-hind foot American Foot and Ankle Society evaluation includes pain, function, and alignment. It shows that there was patient that gains an almost perfect result. Patient with the lowest score also had knee osteoarthritis contralateral from the operated ankle. Early weight bearing on ankle arthrodesis with cannulated screw was the major factor caused unsatisfactory result of this patient. Ankle arthrodesis with cannulated screw has satisfactory result eventhough remain complain on one patient. Nevertheless, ankle arthrodesis with cannulated screw still has an important role in the treatment of choice on ankle reconstruction.Keywords                   : Ankle arthrodesis, cannulated screw, ankle joint fusion 


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 52-57
Author(s):  
Yasir Mohamed Hassan Amin ◽  
Mohamed Abdulla Nugdalla Ahmedi

Quality management is considered one of the most important obstacles facing the construction industry in Sudan. The application of a quality assessment system contributes to the development of quality in projects as it is possible to measure the quality in projects. This paper aims to introduce one of the quality assessment systems, which is the system followed and applied in the Singapore (CONQUAS). This system assesses quality based on structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical work. The paper also aims to study the factors affecting the application of the quality assessment system in Sudan. The study is carried out in the region of Khartoum. The study is focusing on the construction projects. The study is carried out by questionnaires and other literature review. The respondents are consultants and contractors. The data has been distributed and analyzed by using the Average Index. From the study it was found that CONQUAS standard is assessed the building based on workmanship standards by the assessors from the BCA on site using standard score sheets. The assessment is done throughout the construction process for structural, mechanical and electrical works, and from questionnaire results the main factors affect construction industry in Sudan is lack of standardization in Sudan. The author recommended that more study shall be conducted to identify factors affecting quality in Sudanese construction industry and how to improve the quality.  


Assessment is an important component of education especially in the context of the learning and teaching environment. In higher education, assessment is the heart of formal education. Nowadays, technology plays an important role in the assessment process. Therefore, using technology development has an impact on improving the assessment system. Focus on the using of electronic assessment (e-assessment) systems is increasingly developing at the higher education level. Technological developments have led to a shift in concepts and ways of assessing moving from face-to-face assessment to digital-based assessment, namely an end-to-end assessment process using ICT. E-assessment system is provides many benefits for the effectiveness and efficiency of learning in higher education for lecturers, students and institutions. Many e-assessment models are developed to meet various objectives, especially in the purpose of educational learning. However, there are many challenges in its process and application. This paper aims to provide an example of e-assessment system application, describe challenges in the use of e-assessment systems in higher education based on literature, journals and research results and provide recommendations on how to deal with all of these challenges so that the assessment objectives can be achieved. The method that used is to figure out and describe qualitatively. Overall conclusion is the e-assessment system has become one of the requirements in higher education with many models. There are still many questions for lecturers, students and institutions that pose challenges in the application of e-assessments related to validity and reliability, accuracy, fairness, security, infrastructure and human resources. Based on this fact then the recommendation of these challenges in the successful implementation of e-assessment in higher education are paying attention to the characteristics of e-assessment, designing assessments according the needs, and creating a complete and accessible assessment system for all.


2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
Yu. G. Sandler ◽  
K. G. Saliev ◽  
S. N. Backih ◽  
S. G. Khomeriki ◽  
T. Yu. Khaymenova ◽  
...  

Due to the absence of the pathognomonic diagnostic criteria and to the diversity of clinical, serological and morphological manifestations, the diagnostic of the autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remains to be a difficult task, which might lead to the delay of the timely beginning of the immunosuppressive therapy (IST), which in turn affects the disease outcomes. Aim.To studying the clinical, biochemical, immunological and morphological markers in patients with seronegative (SN) and seropositive (SP) AIH and the qualities of their response to the IST. Materials and methods.This retrospective cohort study included 82 AIH patients over the course of the years 20142019. All patients were selected in accordance with the criteria of the simplified assessment system of the IAIHG. Clinical, laboratorial and morphological characteristics of the AIH were analyzed. Therapy response was evaluated by the level of the ALT and IgG in 612 months after the start of the IST. The study material underwent statistical analysis using methods of parametrical and nonparametrical analysis. Statistical analysis was performed in the Statistica 13.3 (developed by StatSoft Inc., USA). Results.67/82 (81.70%) of the patients studied were women, median age of 54 years old [38; 70]. Patients with the diagnosis of the possible AIH according to the IAIHG made 85.4% (70 people). Almost everyone 96% (79/82) had morphological features of the interface-hepatitis with the lymphocytic/plasmocytic infiltration; emperipolesis was discovered in 63% of patients (49/82), hepatocellular rosette in 23% (19/82). Patients with SN AIH comprised 36.5% (30/82), with SP 63.4% (52/82). Comparative analysis demonstrated that the clinical profile in patients with SN and SP AIH is the same, while the incidence of immuno-associated diseases is significantly higher in the group of seronegative AIH. The morphological profile in the two AIH groups is identical in both typical and atypical manifestations. The number of responders to IST was 63% (19/30) SN AIH vs 67% SP AIH (35/52), did not differ significantly (p=0.529).However, that the number of patients with liver cirrhosis in the SN AIH group was twice as big as the ones with SP: 37% vs 17% (p=0.089). Conclusions.A comparative analysis of clinical, laboratory, morphological and clinical manifestations in the SN and SP AIH groups did not detected statistically significant significant differences, which may indicate that SN and SP AIH are the faces of one disease. It is possible that AB cannot be identified within the known spectrum of antibodies, or antibodies have slow expression, or are suppressed by the immune system. In any case, suspicions of AIH, in the absence of antibodies, it is recommended that liver biopsy be performed for the timely diagnosis of AIH and IST. Сirrhosis was more often diagnosed in the group SN AIH, which may be due to a later diagnosis, and therefore to untimely IST. The found frequent association of SN AIH with other immune-associated diseases requires a carefully study of this problem. The variety of clinical manifestations of AIH requires further study, the identification of clinical phenotypes with certain feature. This can help in the future to timely identify potentially problematic patients and predict a response to IST.


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